Colorado Rockies select Tennessee’s Chase Dollander No. 9 overall in 2023 MLB Draft

Tennessee right-handed pitcher Chase Dollander has been selected in the first round of the 2023 Major League Baseball Draft by the Colorado Rockies at No. 9 overall.

The hurler becomes the highest-drafted Tennessee pitcher since Luke Hochevar went No. 1 overall to the Kansas City Royals in 2006. It’s worth noting, Hochevar’s final season in the Orange & White was in 2005 and he was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers at 40^th overall. The two sides couldn’t come to a contractual agreement and Hochevar pitched Independent League ball in 2006 before entering the draft again.  

1 (9): @Rockies select Tennessee (TN) P Chase Dollander https://t.co/H9TfucPvWN #MLBDraft

— MLB Draft Tracker (@MLBDraftTracker) July 9, 2023

Garrett Crochet was selected by the Chicago White Sox just a few slots behind Dollander at No. 11 in the 2020 MLB Draft. Dollander is now the highest Tennessee selection since Nick Senzel went No. 2 overall to the Cincinnati Reds in 2016.  

Dollander entered the 2023 campaign as arguably the best pitcher in the college game. His stuff is still considered some of the best in the draft, but he took a step back (stats wise) as a junior on Rocky Top. The righty went 10-0 with a 2.39 ERA after transferring in from Georgia Southern in 2022. This past spring, the starter went 7-6 with a 4.75 ERA, striking out 120 batters over 89 innings pitched.

After being selected by the Rockies, Dollander becomes the 21^st first round pick in program history, joining recent top-round picks Drew Gilbert (2022), Jordan Beck (2022) and Garrett Crochet (2020). According to Jim Callis at MLB.com, Dollander’s ninth-overall pick is slotted at $5,716,900.

The pitcher links up with former Vol teammate Jordan Beck, who was selected by the Rockies in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

The Colorado Rockies have selected Tennessee #Vols RHP Chase Dollander at No. 9 overall in the #MLBDraft https://t.co/b3FyVElfpp

— Eric Cain (@_Cainer) July 9, 2023

MLB Draft Vols in the Tony Vitello Era

Entering this year’s draft, there had been 28 players drafted by Major League Baseball organizations during the Tony Vitello tenure, one that started in the spring of 2018. Tennessee had a program-record 10 players drafted in 2022 with two first rounders, Drew Gilbert (Astros, pick 28) and Jordan Beck (Rockies, pick 38 in Competitive Balance Round A). Two Tennessee players who have been drafted under Vitello are currently in the Major Leagues – Ben Joyce (2022), Garrett Crochet (2020).

Overall, the Volunteers have boasted 183 draft picks all-time with 55 players reaching the show. Prior to Chase Dollander (2023), the Vols had sported 20 total first round selections.

Vitello is coming off his second College World Series appearance in the past three seasons as head coach of the Volunteers. Tennessee broke a 22-year Omaha winless streak with its 6-4 victory over Stanford on June 19, a win that snapped a six-game losing streak on the stage. The Vols capped the 2022 campaign with a 44-22 record and Tennessee is the only team in college baseball to average 50 wins over the past three seasons.

Here’s a list of players who have been drafted after being coached by Tony Vitello at Tennessee (entering the 2023 draft).

2022 – Drew Gilbert – Round 1, Astros
2022 – Jordan Beck – Round 1, Rockies
2022 – Blade Tidwell – Round 2, Mets
2022 – Trey Lipscomb – Round 3, Nationals      
2022 – Ben Joyce – Round 3, Angels
2022 – Will Mabrey – Round 6, Diamondbacks
2022 – Jorel Ortega – Round 6, Twins
2022 – Seth Stephenson – Round 7, Tigers
2022 – Mark McLaughlin – Round 7, White Sox
2022 – Cortland Lawson – Round 14, Nationals
2021 – Chad Dallas – Round 4, Blue Jays
2021 – Liam Spence – Round 5, Cubs
2021 – Max Ferguson – Round 5, Padres
2021 – Connor Pavolony – Round 7, Orioles
2021 – Jake Rucker – Round 7, Twins
2021 – Jackson Leath – Round 12, Rangers
2021 – Sean Hunley – Round 19, Rays
2020 – Garrett Crochet – Round 1, White Sox
2020 – Alerick Soularie – Round 2, Twins
2020 – Zach Daniels – Round 4, Astros
2019 – Andre Lipcius – Round 3, Tigers
2019 – Garrett Stallings – Round 5, Angels
2019 – Andrew Schultz – Round 6, Phillies
2019 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 9, Angels
2019 – Ricky Martinez – Round 18, Diamondbacks
2019 – Jay Charleston – Round 26, Royals
2018 – Zach Linginfelter – Round 19, Nationals
2018 – Benito Santiago – Round 34, Cardinals